Boron analysis at different stages of the cell cycle in cultured tobacco cells

Abstract

The paper presents the data suggesting that boron (B) content in the cultured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cells change during the stage of cell cycle. Cultured cell line, tobacco BY-2, was synchronized by treatments with aphidicolin and propyzamide. When the cells started to grow, cells were periodically collected at each stage of the cell cycle. To measure the B content, cells were dried and prepared as tablets and prompt gamma-ray analysis (PGA) with a cold neutron beam was performed. Flow cytometry (FCM) was carried out on the same cell fraction to analyze the cell cycle in more detail. There was a clear difference in B content with respect to the cell cycle stage. Boron content in the cells at G2+M phase was found to be about half of that at G0/G1.